The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1887-10-19
A ssLffer''--FOrtitud VS.. Misery.

Editor Mirror:
have often heard the character of men
eXtOled for their fOrtitude who have suf-
fered some one of the losses that, next to
life itself, man holds so dear-his wealth,
his position i'll society, or his health-but
of all losses that can be afflicted on, or try
the fOrtitude of man, the loss OF liberty
ranks chief, and where the philosophy of
man is totally inadequate to fill up the void
left vacant by that loss, there are men who
have been enabled by their faith in the
hereafter to preserve their spirits and bear
their loss with mental equinimty. But l.
never having experienced the alleged COM
forts of religion, owing probably to the
abnOrmally small develOpement of the
bump of Faith. or the abnOrmally large
bump of Skepticism, l will refer only to
the latter class. who. no matter what has
been their condition in society. are COM
PEELED to drag out a miserable existence
without faith or hope for the future or
pleasure or peace in the present. Never
having been educated in the school of SEN
timent and credulity, lie lacks the essential
element of christian happiness, Faith. And,
VII tlC OtuCl lldI(t IllC UlSCONtllOS Ol IDOu-
ern scientists bearing on the subject of
evolution. astronomy and geology are to
his mind which has been trained
in the school of hard fact combinations
stronger than Holy Writ look where he
WILL nothing meets his view but sham and
hypocrisy if he takes the trouble to peep
under the mask. Few people realize the
misery and mental suffering of men who
are condemned to years of servitude behind
the bars. and to my mind it is not always
the christian who: with the aid of religion,
exhibits the greater fOrtitude in adversely.
had been here but few days. and had
not become hardened by contract with the
hopeless misery that is inseparable from a
prison, when | was quietly approached by
a grave, elderly prisoner, who with quiet
air of interest ntOrrOgated me as to the
length of time l was to sojourn in this
Chateau DIFF. Upon my mentioning that
two years was the length of time allotted to
me for reflection as guest of the state.
and mildly intimating that two years
stretched their dreary length long way
ahead, l received the encouraging assur-
ance that it would roll around sometime"
Upon pressing my grave acquaintance to
pestow a similar confidence he lacOnically
circulated life" and slowly shuffled off to
attend to some duty.
never VIII l0rSeC the 1eollnS OF awe
and sympathy that came over me as l rea-
lized that human being was compelled to
pass his whole life in servtude. without
hope and without cheer. Indeed, it was
some time after the old fellow left me
standing alone that l cOmprehended the
extent Ot his lOSs-the severance of all
family ties. and the burning ambitions of
manhood all blasted and swept away for
weakness in character for which he was
but partly respons ibe in yielding to a mo-
mentary passion that got beyond his control.
l have often watcl.. Il the poor old fellow
and pictured "what might have been'' if
fortune had been kinder to him. and l
think if men could but see. when their
passions rise to the heat that will induce
judgment to disregard the sacretneSs of
human life. that grave. quiet old ''ifer''
who made such an impression on me and
" 10 bore his chains with such unchristian
",itude. they would surely pause and
>,.!nd aghast at his terrible fate. f. NJ.